Good liquor sales force Radico Khaitan to expand capacity

Chennai: Liquor manufacturer Radico Khaitan has firmed up plans to increase its Rampur distillery's production capacity by 15 million litres to 60 million litres per year. In addition, the company has also tied up with 14 bottling units across India to meet its increased demand.

Radico Khaitan, one of the largest manufacturers of liquor in the country, is best known for its brands 8 PM whisky and Contessa rum; the latter is one of the largest selling brands among defence forces, crossing a sales figure of 2 million cases last year.

The newly launched premium whisky Special Appointment has surged ahead, also Old Admiral VSOP brandy, recently launched in Kerala, has been a runaway success, thereby contributing to the strong growth. Similarly, the acquired brands, Whitefield whisky and brandy, also registered a good sales growth. For the year ended 31 March 2003 the company posted a net profit of Rs 18.58 crore on a turnover of Rs 620.86 crore as against a net profit of Rs 11.83 crore and a turnover of Rs 480.54 crore posted the previous year. Radico Khaitan chairman and managing director Lalit Khaitan says the increase in profits is partly due to the cost-efficiencies achieved by the company.